When Myrka A. Gonzalez J.D., Ed.D. is asked to speak, she doesn't necessarily give her audience what they expect. Instead of talking about childhood struggles with poverty, her law practice or her doctoral degree in
education, she challenges her audience to reflect not on her life but on what they can do to help others.

"I'm uncomfortable talking about myself. I think there are a lot more important things in this world," said Gonzalez, who together with her
husband, David Ochoa, has given generously to the Long Island community.

In fact, the couple was recently honored as philanthropists of the year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. It was during her speech at the award ceremony late last year that Gonzalez shared a story about a recent trip she and Ochoa took to Alaska where they visited the youngest of three grandchildren.

It was in Alaska that Gonzalez had the pleasure of meeting an Inuit woman who shared some thought provoking information about her life and the deeds of her "great hunter" husband. The woman, Viola, explained that her marriage was arranged but that she agreed to the marriage after observing from a distance that he was a kind man.

Gonzalez didn't understand why Viola was describing her husband, an artist, as a great hunter. It soon became clear, however, that the man was a great hunter because he provided for his family as well as for others in the Inuit community who couldn't provide for themselves. "This is what makes him a great hunter. That he can provide for his own and then also for those outside his family who can no longer provide for themselves," said Gonzalez during her speech.

"Ladies and gentlemen believe it or not there are people here today who although they are not Native-American they have followed this tradition. They have provided for their own families more than adequately and have then gone on to provide for many of the causes here on Long Island," said Gonzalez, who considers Ochoa to be a "great hunter" as well.

Both Gonzalez and Ochoa were raised in families with little financial means. Gonzalez was born in Cuba and came to the United States with her
parents and older sister Lilliam. They first settled in Miami then moved to Queens where her sister Ana was born. Her parents were both educated,
her father being a civil engineer in Cuba and her mother, a teacher of biology and chemistry. Education was something that was stressed in the family and although Gonzalez didn't know how it would happen, she always knew that she would be college educated.

In fact, her decision to become a lawyer was one that she made when she was just six years old. The choice was made after Gonzalez had an experience in court after family members were arrested during a protest. She realized that those who didn't know English had a real handicap in the courtroom and wanted to make sure that she could help others in a similar situation.

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